[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR578.4]

[Page 395-396]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                    CHAPTER V--DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
 
PART 578--DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 578.4  Medal of Honor.

    (a) Criteria. The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of 
Congress, 12 July 1862 (amended by Act of 9 July 1918 and Act of 25 July 
1963) is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member 
of the Army, distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and 
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty 
while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while 
engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing 
foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in 
an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United 
States is not a belligerent party (figure 1). The deed performed must 
have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to 
clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have 
involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the 
service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this 
decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. 
Eligibility is limited to members of the Army of the United States in 
active Federal military service.
    (b) Description. A gold-finished bronze star, one point down, 1\9/
16\ inches in diameter with rays terminating in trefoils, surrounded by 
a laurel wreath in green enamel, suspended by two links from a bar 
bearing the inscription ``Valor'' and surmounted by an eagle grasping 
laurel leaves in one claw and arrows in the other. In the center of the 
star is the head of Minerva surrounded by the inscription ``United 
States of America.'' Each ray of the star bears an oak leaf in green 
enamel. On the reverse of the bar are stamped the words ``The Congress 
To.'' The medal is suspended by a hook to a ring fastened behind the 
eagle. The hook is attached to a light-blue moired silk neckband, 1\3/
16\ inches in width and 21\3/4\ inches in length, behind a square pad in 
the center made of the ribbon with the corners turned in. On the ribbon 
bar are 13 white stars arranged in the form of a triple chevron, 
consisting of two chevrons of 5 stars and one chevron of 3 stars. A 
hexagonal rosette of light-blue ribbon \1/2\ inch circumscribing 
diameter, with a fan-shaped ribbon insert showing white stars, is 
included for wear on civilian clothing.
    (c) Medal of Honor Roll. The Medal of Honor Roll was established by 
Act of Congress, April 27, 1916, as amended, 38 U.S.C. 560. It provides 
that each Medal of Honor awardee may have his name entered on the Medal 
of Honor Roll. Each person whose name is placed on the Roll is certified 
to the Veterans' Administration as being entitled to receive a special 
pension of $100 per month for life, payable monthly by that agency. The 
payment of this special pension is in addition to, and does not deprive 
the pensioner of any other pension, benefit, right, or privilege to 
which he is or may thereafter be entitled. A written application must be 
made by the awardee to have his name placed on the Medal of Honor Roll 
and to receive the special pension. For Army personnel, proper blanks 
and instructions shall be furnished without charge upon request to The 
Adjutant General, Department of the Army, Washington, DC 20314, 
Attention: AGPB-AC. The application must bear the full personal 
signature of the applicant.
    (d) Additional benefits. (1) Air transportation: See AR 96-20 (Army 
Regulations pertaining to Air Transportation).
    (2) Sons of winners of the Medal of Honor, otherwise qualified for 
admission to the United States Military Academy, will not be subject to 
quota

[[Page 396]]

requirements (see annual catalog, United States Military Academy).

(Sec. 3741, 70A Stat. 215; 10 U.S.C. 3741)

[21 FR 7672, Oct. 6, 1956, as amended at 29 FR 527, Jan. 22, 1964; 35 FR 
9279, June 13, 1970]